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I TH 9445 
■N4 G7 

Copy J 


Fire Prevention 


and 


Fire Protection 


For Manufacturing Plants 




HOME INSURANCE CO. 

NEW YORK 

56 CEDAR STREET 


ELBRIDGE G. SNOW, President 


JANUARY, 1911 

CAPITAL .... $3,000,000. OOt 

ASSETS ..... 30,178,913.63 

LIABILITIES - - - 16,349,300.45 

CONFLAGRATION SURPLUS 1,500,000.00f 

NET SURPLUS - - 12,329,613.18t 

Surplus as regards Policy Holders $16,889,613.18 + 



?UT, /&. ,<u 

WAY 











* FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE PROTECTION 
FOR MANUFACTURING PLANTS 


By F. M, GRISWOLD, G. I. 


Gentlemen; 

Let me assure you that I very highly appreciate the privi¬ 
lege of addressing an assemblage of this character, realizing 
that I have before me men of more than ordinary in¬ 
telligence, whose study under capable instructors has pre¬ 
pared them to readily grasp the importance of fire preven¬ 
tion and fire protection as applied to manufacturing plants 
as an essential element in plant-design, and who are there¬ 
fore mentally fitted to assimilate the technical and practical 
features embodied in that new branch of science known as 
“Fire Protection Engineering,” a knowledge of which is in 
my opinion, a necessity in the proper rounding out of the 
technical equipment of these young men who are about to 
venture into the field of endeavor and accomplishment for 
which they have prepared themselves, and wherein the op¬ 
portunity for reward and honors is limited only by the 
capacity of those who strive. 

In view of the recent establishment of a department in 
your University covering the science of “Fire Protection,” 
I fear that it may not be possible for me to tell you very 
much with which you are not somewhat familiar through the 
course of lectures which have already been delivered On the 
subject; however, in a matter of such broad scope and 
transcendent importance to the welfare of the individual and 
to the nation as a whole, iteration and reiteration is not only 
excusable, but is a necessity, born of the fearful toll which 
the people of this country are paying on account of the 
ravages of fire, which is yearly dissipating hundreds of mil¬ 
lions dollars of the values vested in our created re- 

* Lecture delivered to Fourth Year Class on Manufacturing Plant- 
design, Columbia University, 9th May, 1911. 

3 







sources, for the conservation of which the public conscience 
needs to be awakened to a proper sense of the responsibility 
which rests upon each individual to personally endeavor to 
check this needless waste of both life and property, which is 
the result of selfish carelessness and indifference in relation 
to fire prevention measures. 

I trust therefore that you will pardon me if I say a few 
words on the subject of the fire waste in this country, be¬ 
fore giving attention to more specific matters relative to fire. 
prevention and fire protection as applied to manufacturing 
plants. Assuming that each of those within reach of my 
voice is more or less familiar with the activities of the of¬ 
ficials of the general government in relation to the con¬ 
servation of the natural resources of our country, and that 
most of you are ready to commend and encourage this 
somewhat tardy effort to husband the bounties which nature 
has so kindly provided and which we have heretofore so 
prodigally wasted, let me ask, how many of you have taken 
seriously to heart the almost criminally inexcusable dissipa¬ 
tion of the created resources, the actual invested wealth of 
this country, which for each year, and for many years past, 
has been absolutely eliminated from the assets of the nation, 
as a needless sacrifice to the demon fire ? 

Fortunately nature may, and frequently does restore the 
waste of its values which man permits or instigates, but when 
man permits or instigates the waste of acquired wealth by 
fire, it means an absolute and irrevocable destruction of so 
much accumulated value; fire resolves the combustible into 
its original elements, which man cannot re-assemble into an 
entity as an evidence of his capacity for creating resources, 
nor can he count these intangible elements as part of his 
assets, hence, he who would retain that which has been 
accumulated, must be his own conservator and forfend the 
day of obliteration of his holdings by constant and un¬ 
ceasing effort to prevent fire, and supplement such effort by 
the provision of reliable and efficient fire protection. 

In order to impress upon your minds the enormity of the 
fire waste in this country, with its accompanying sacrifice 
of human life and injury to person, let me epitomize the 
statistics of many years into an average one year period as 
follows: 


4 


During one year (1907) fire caused the death of 1,449 
persons and the injury of 5,654, according to statistics 
gathered by the U. S. Geological Survey. 

Each year since shows an increasing loss of life and record 
of injuries, the human sacrifice keeping pace with increasing 
fire waste. 

Each year $250,000,000 of tangible value is wasted by 
fire. 

Each minute of each day of the year sees $500 in value 
rising in flame and smoke leaving an ash-pile as its pyre. 

Each year the fire loss equals $2.65 per capita of our 
95,000,000 of population. 

Each year this needless loss equals a tax of $13.00 per 
each family of five of our population. 

Each year shows a record of 40 fires to each 10,000 of 
our population. 

This, gentlemen, is a very brief statement; there are only 
five items in it, but it serves to brand the American people 
as the most prodigally wasteful of all civilized communties 
in relation to the conservation of their acquired resources; 
when we compare this shameful record with that of the 
nations of Continental Europe in respect to fire waste which 
we find as collated in a report of the United States Geologi¬ 
cal Survey, covering Statistics of six leading foreign coun¬ 
tries including cities having population comparable with a 
like number of the leading cities of this country, it is dis¬ 
covered that only eight fires to each . 10,000 population take 
place each year, and that the fire loss in 'the same period is 
but 33 cents per capita in the cities, and but 48 cents per 
capita as a general average over all, assuredly under these 
conditions the American people have no occasion to “point 
with pride” to (their record. 

In attempting to answer the natural inquiry as to the 
cause of the lower fire waste in foreign countries as com¬ 
pared with the experience with our own, it may be stated 
that under the centralized forms of government peculiar to 
these older countries, the individual is held to strict per¬ 
sonal responsibility not only for fires occurring within his 
own property, but also for any damage to his neighbors on 
account of fire which is the result of violation of law, or in 
consequence of culpable carelessness, and may not recover 

5 


payment for loss until after judicial investigation has proven 
him not at fault; the same conditions exist in relation to 
the tenant in whose occupancy fire may take place. 

In addition to thus placing personal responsibility upon 
both the owner and the tenant, these governments formulate 
and enforce wise building laws and regulate the hazards of 
occupancy with such strictness that an evasion of either 
condition is almost unknown, while in this free country, 
every man assumes to be a power in himself, having little 
regard for the rights of his neighbors, and generally con¬ 
struing the term ‘‘liberty” into that of broad license to do 
as he pleases with his own, with the direful result evidenced 
in our yearly fire heap. 

While it is perhaps beyond the bounds of hope to secure 
in this country as close official supervision of the individual 
as is had abroad, I confess to a desire for just that modicum 
of paternalism which would serve to take care of the fools, 
guide the ignorant, caution the reckless and severely punish 
the vicious when responsible for preventable fires. Certainly 
if we are to hope for a reduction in our fire waste, it must 
be sought in making the individual realize his personal 
responsibility not only for the proper care of his own hold¬ 
ings, but also as an obligation to his neighbors and for the 
welfare of the nation in the matter of fire prevention. 

It is a truism to state that communities are formed by the 
aggregation of individual units, but it seems wise to impress 
upon you a realization of the fact, that if the unit can be 
brought into appreciation of its obligation to prevent fires, 
the benefit to the community as a whole will soon become 
apparent, and herein, it appears to me, is opened to you a 
field of education of the unit both by precept and example, 
for the cultivation of which your technical knowledge so 
exactly fits you, and I trust you will appreciate their im¬ 
portance and grasp the opportunity whenever and wherever 
it may come to you so to do. 

Passing now to the matters of fire prevention and fire 
protection, I am confronted with such a mass of essential 
detail in the proper consideration of each subject as to 
almost despair of being able to convey to you a proper con¬ 
ception of their importance within the time allotted for my 
remarks, but in general may say that FIRE PREVENTION 

6 


covers such a wide scope as to compel special consideration 
as to methods for each plant as it comes under observation, 
no two being so alike in their needs as ito permit generaliza¬ 
tion relating to details, but as the very foundation of fire 
protection is based upon the completeness and efficiency of 
fire prevention, this latter phase of the question will first 
be given attention, and in this relation it may be said that 
the most important and basic element in fire prevention is 
included in the term “shop management,” or in more homely 
terms, “GOOD HOUSE-KEEPING,” which is an es¬ 
sential in fire prevention in every plant, whatever the nature 
of its occupancy, the character of its building construction 
or the completeness of its fire protection. 

Acceptable practice in “GOOD HOUSE-KEEPING” de¬ 
mands strict compliance with the following prime essentials 
in fire prevention: 

First , the enforcement of rules which will insure cleanli¬ 
ness throughout the plant as a matter of daily practice, not 
only as a means by which the possibility of fire may be 
avoided, but as of profit. 

(a). Floor sweepings; greasy lunch papers, oily wiping 
waste, paint, rags and like material subject to spontaneous 
ignition, should be deposited in “Standard” safety cans 
suitable for their reception, the contents of which should 
be safely disposed of each night, preferably to be burned 
under the boiler. 

Ashes should be kept only in metal receptacles; should be 
removed from building each night and not be deposited in 
contact with combustible structures or material. 

( b .) Working men’s clothes and overalls, when not in 
use should be kept in ventilated metal closets or lockers not 
in contact with readily combustible material. 

(c) . Oily metal turnings or filings should not be per¬ 
mitted to accumulate on wooden floors or be held in com¬ 
bustible receptacles, nor should they be mixed with com¬ 
bustible materials. 

(d ) . All combustible process waste and other refuse 
should be carefully disposed of by removal from the build¬ 
ings at the close of each days work, and be safely deposited 
in locations not endangering the plant in case of ignition of 
such refuse. 

( e ) . Time should be allotted to operatives for cleaning 
machinery and disposing of oily wiping waste, and for the 
removal of combustible waste material prior to hour of clos¬ 
ing shop for the day. 


7 


(f) All volatile and inflammable fluids should be kept in 
and used from “Standard’ safety cans; not in excess of one 
day’s supply of such should be kept inside of building at 
any time, and all unused portions should be removed to a 
place of safety outside of the plant at the close of the days 

(g) . Heating and lighting systems should be maintained 
in a safe manner and be kept in good condition; steam; pipes 
should not be in contact with wood-work or other com¬ 
bustibles ; hot air pipes or other heat conveying or produc¬ 
ing devices should be carefully arranged to prevent over 
heating or ignition of combustibles. 

( h ) . Open lights or flame of any character should be 
maintained in such position as to avoid ignition of com¬ 
bustibles ; gas brackets should always be of the rigid pat¬ 
tern, preventing swinging. 

( i ) . Open lights or flame of any character should never 
be permitted for use in the presence of inflammable or vola¬ 
tile materials, or where inflammable dust is liable to be 
present; incandescent electric lights in such localities should 
be of the keyless socket pattern and enclosed in wire guards, 
with operating switch located in an apartment separated from 
the inflammables. 

(/). The use of so-called “Parlor Matches” or their 
equivalent should be strictly prohibited in all parts of the 
plant. If matches must be used, only those lighting on the 
prepared surface of the containing box or receptable should 
be permitted. 

(/?). The use of the incandescent electric current for 
lighting is the safest means of illumination, when the equip¬ 
ment is installed in strict conformity with the “National 
Electric Code” and its integrity insured by proper supervision 
of the equipment. 

(/). All specially hazardous and dangerous processes or 
devices which may serve to cause or promote fire, should, 
where possible, be carefully segregated and properly sepa¬ 
rated from communication with the plant in general, and also 
receive special consideration in relation to fire extinguishing 
appliances. 

(m) . Watchman’s service should be maintained at all 
times when the plant is not in operation, and the record of 
service be shown on. such mechanical device as will not per¬ 
mit evasion of duty; records should be examined and checked 
over, filed and dated each day. 

(n) . Discipline should be enforced and system be main¬ 
tained by holding shop foreman or floor boss strictly respon¬ 
sible for the maintenance of established conditions, a written 
report covering these matters to be filed with manager each 
day. 


8 


In order to be assured of the best results from the careful 
observance of these “Good House-keeping” rules, it is 
necessary to give consideration to the matter of building 
construction, as the measure of efficiency in both fire pre¬ 
vention and fire protection is largely affected by the character 
of the structure, it being evident that a fire resistive build¬ 
ing, having open and smooth interior surfaces, without con¬ 
cealed spaces and with ithe minimum of combustible material 
in construction and interior fittings, would call for a less 
elaborate system of fire protection and present smaller op¬ 
portunity for dangerous accumulations than would be the 
case where, as in ordinary joist or light construction, the 
whole interior is readily combustible, hence, assuming to 
roughly outline the essentials which should have considera¬ 
tion in designing a factory plant, the following suggestions 
are presented: 

(a) .Wherever possible, fire resistive material should be 
used in construction, avoiding combustible floors, roofs and 
roof houses, interior trim and fittings. 

( b ) . Avoid “pockets” or concealed spaces in floors and 
walls, which serve to collect and harbor shop refuse, waste, 
etc. 

(c.) Separation of areas into the smallest units prac¬ 
ticable for the use to which they are to be assigned; divisions 
between sections to be formed by standard fire-walls hav¬ 
ing only such openings as may not be avoided, each of which 
should be protected by “Standard” automatic fire doors on 
each side of the separating fire-wall. 

( d ). All openings in side walls at the angles of adjoin¬ 
ing sections and toward all exposing structures or accumu¬ 
lations of combustibles should be protected with “Standard” 
fire shutters, or, where the exposure is not serious, by wired 
glass in “Standard” metal frames; the absence of proper 
protection at such openings facilitates the lateral spread of 
flame and thus promotes conflagration. 

( e .) Vertical openings through floors should be 
avoided, as they form channels for spread of flame from 
floor to floor with almost incredible rapidity, and present 
one of the most dangerous features to be found in modern 
construction from a fire prevention viewpoint. 

(/). Elevators, stairways, belt and rope drive raceways, 
should be separated and enclosed in brick or fire resistive 
shafts, having “Standard” fire-proof automatic doors at all 
openings to plant. 


9 


(g). Fire escapes should be constructed with fire-proof 
stairways, enclosed in brick or fire resistive shafts rising 
above roof, with outside balconies having doors swinging 
outward from building and inward from balcony to stairway 
escape; no openings from shaft to the building to be per¬ 
mitted. 

While under the present advanced state of the art of 
building construction there would seem to be no valid ob¬ 
jection to demanding conformity to the suggestions above 
laid down in relation to new plants; it is probable that there 
will come under your supervision changes in the design of 
plants already established and located in buildings of less 
desirable construction, and in such cases it will become neces¬ 
sary to so change the conditions affecting the fire hazard 
and “good house-keeping” as to bring them as nearly as 
possible to this higher standard, and this may frequently be 
accomplished at moderate expense. Reference to the Na¬ 
tional Board of Fire Underwriters pamphlet covering “Uni¬ 
form Requirements” relating to building construction, will 
doubtless prove of value in such instances. 

Again treating of building construction in its broad 
sense, it may be well to attempt a short classification of 
various types of buildings in relation to their adaptability 
to best promote success in the efforts toward fire prevention 
and fire protection herein suggested: 

First, may be considered standard fire resistive or the 
so-called fireproof construction which presents no easily 
ignitable surfaces, and should when properly constructed 
show no avoidable features which might serve to obstruct 
the fire protective devices. 

The higher first cost of this class of construction is 
thoroughly justified through the fact that its term of life is 
practically unlimited, and the probable depreciation some¬ 
where about one-ninth of one per cent, per annum. 

1 he question as to which of two classes of fire resistive 
construction is the better lies between the steel frame skeleton 
enclosed with fireproof tile and that which is enclosed with 
reinforced concrete. In my judgment, there is little to be 
said in favor on one over the other except from the fact that 
in reinforced concrete construction, it is an evidenced neces¬ 
sity to have expert control from the selection of the cement 
through all the processes until the concrete is set in its 
moulds, and this result is not easily obtainable with the ordi¬ 
nary class of employees available in construction. 


io 


Second, “Mill” or slow burning construction carries with 
it many features which are desirable in relation to the 
ready extinguishment of fire from the fact that while all 
of its interior construction may be combustible, the heavy 
plank floors and their supporting timbers offer no hidden 
spaces, nor are they readily attacked by flame. The cost 
of this class'of construction‘over that of ordinary construc¬ 
tion is justifiable by the fact that its lease of life is superior, 
and the cost of its up-keep is very small. 

Third, ordinary or so-called light joist construction is par¬ 
ticularly objectionable from the fact that it presents the 
largest exposed area subject to ready ignition, and offers 
the most difficult problems in relation to fire prevention and 
fire protection. Its low cost is very materially offset by 
the expensive up-keep and the high rate of depreciation to 
which it is subject ranging from 4 to 4^% per annum. It 
is, therfore, apparent that under the present condition of 
advanced ideas in building construction, the designer of 
new manufacturing plants should strenuously avoid the con¬ 
sideration of the ordinary or light-joisted type of construc¬ 
tion. 

At this point it seems wise to make reference to the 
National Board Building Code which has been prepared 
under the advice and council of eminent architects and en¬ 
gineers throughout the country, and presents information 
which will prove of large value to all who may seek to secure 
the result of a concerted effort to regulate the construction 
of buildings throughout the country which will best serve 
to reduce the fire hazard. 

In attempting to specifically designate the nature or char¬ 
acter of fire extinguishing appliances best fitted for use in 
any manufacturing plant, we are confronted with condi¬ 
tions in relation to the character of building construction 
and the nature of its occupancy which may serve to influence, 
if not to indicate, the selection of the class of apparatus 
which will presumably best control the given situation. 
While the choice of appliances for the purpose covers a 
wide range, measuring in efficiency from the humble cask 
and pail of water up to and including chemical extinguish¬ 
ers, stand-pipes and hose, fire pumps and hydrants under 
private control and water supply, and to be further extended 
to the full paid and organized fire department under munici¬ 
pal control, but as the efficiency of each of these devices and 


11 


methods depends on the unreliable factor of the human 
element to be on hand and to intelligently handle them in 
emergency, experience has taught us that only when in the 
hands of skilled fireman may there be hope of satisfactory 
results in the use of these devices, and while cheerfully ad¬ 
mitting their value as auxiliary means of fire extinction, I 
desire to call your attention to a method or system of fire 
extinguishment which is neither controlled or influenced by 
the uncertainity of the human element, a device and system 
which is always and automatically prepared to put out a fire 
at the point and at the time of its occurrence, responding in¬ 
stantly to the extinguishment of the flame, the heat from 
which sets it in operation, and which is suitable for efifective 
service in practically any class of structure and under any 
condition of possible fire hazard. 

This device is known as THE AUTOMATIC SPRINK* 
LER, and it has reached its present position of depend¬ 
ability as a fire extinguishing appliance through long years 
of study and experiment, the records showing that as far 
back as the year 1809 an d again in the year 1812, patents 
were granted in England to Sir William Congreve, M. P., 
for “an apparatus for extinguishing fires which shall be 
called into action by the fire itself at its first breaking out, 
and which shall be brought to bear upon the precise part 
where the flames exist”; while the automatic operation of 
this ancient device depended upon the burning of a cord to 
release a weighted valve which was normally closed, the 
wording of the claim is nearly broad enough to cover the 
more perfected device of the present day equipment, and had 
this far sighted conception been supplemented by half as 
much energy in commercially forwarding the introduction 
and use of the device at that time as has been the case with 
similar apparatus during the past thirty years in this coun¬ 
try, the saving of human lives and the preservation of 
property values from the ravages of fire incident to its use 
would have established a record astounding in its propor¬ 
tions, and highly creditable to progressive civilization. 

While the desire to secure means of automatically con¬ 
trolling the spread of fire prompted many inventive minds to 
undertake the task after the death of the Congreve concep¬ 
tion, nothing of public interest seems to have occurred until 


12 


about 1852, when a system of perforated iron pipes was in¬ 
troduced for fire protection in some eastern cotton mills, 
the operation of which depended upon the opening of a valve 
at the outbreak of a fire, thus calling in the human element 
with all of its uncertainties as the actuating power, and while 
this class' of extinguisher did some good service between 
the date of its inception up to about the year 1875, the dam¬ 
age from the wide spread distribution of water beyond the 
exact seat of the flame proved to be as disastrous as that 
caused by the fire itself, and the perforated pipe was re¬ 
placed by a series of individual sprinkler heads each having 
a cap attached to its extremity and held in place by a fusible 
metal solder of such composition as melt at a fixed tempera¬ 
ture, thus releasing the cap and permitting the flow of the 
water; this was the invention of Henry S. Parmelee, a noted 
engineer of New Haven, Conn., and the first record of a 
fire being extinguished by this device dates back to February 
12th, 1877, when the property of the American Linen Mills, 
at Fall River, Mass., was saved from destruction through 
the operation of the Parmelee sprinkler head. 

Following this demonstration of the efficiency of the 
Parmelee automatic sprinkler as a fire extinguisher, the use 
of the device gradually extended, and the experience gained 
in the operation of same at a number of fires demonstrated 
that they were somewhat slow in action, owing to the fact 
that the fusible cap was in contact with the water of the 
system at all times, thus necessitating longer exposure to 
the action of heat to insure melting of the alloy and retard¬ 
ing the operation of the device; realizing the seriousness of 
this defect in the water-joint head, and using the Parmelee 
idea as a base, many attempts were made to produce a head 
or valve in which the fusible solder would be removed from 
water contact and yet permit the use of a seal to the outlet 
which would be water tight through the mechanical device 
of struts which would hold it in place until released by 
melting of the solder joint; many of these devices proved 
to be impracticable and unreliable in service and have passed 
into oblivion, but there still remains a number of these de¬ 
vices which have stood the test of time and have been per¬ 
fected to such a degree of reliability and efficiency as to 
have become recognized standards, and of these it affords 

13 


me great pleasure to be able, through the courtesy of the 
several manufacturers, to present for your examination 
and study a full set of each of the various types of auto¬ 
matic sprinklers which are now accepted as satisfactory 
under the rules and regulations of the National Board of 
Fire Underwriters, and for the presence of which, when 
properly installed, large rate concessions are usually granted. 

In explaining the nature and functions of the automatic 
sprinkler, it may be well to say that while in the exhibit be¬ 
fore you each of the various types shows differences in gen¬ 
eral design and in the location of the fusible joint, as well 
as in its form, the principle upon which each of these devices 
operates is identical, in that by the melting of the soldered 
joint which holds together the several parts of the strut or 
lever supporting the seal to the outlet of the valve or head, 
this supporting device falls apart, and the pressure of water 
forces the seal out of its place, and striking the distributing 
plate the water is. sprayed over a floor space the diameter 
of which is proportionate to the height of the sprinkler head 
above the floor, and its volume is controlled by the head in 
feet or pressure in pounds at which the water is supplied at 
the outlet of the device, ranging from 12 gallons per minute 
at 5 pounds pressure up to 58 gallons per minute at loo 
pounds pressure, through the standard open waterway of 
one-half inch diameter common to each of these devices. 

In each case the composition of the fusible alloy used is 
standardized to insure its melting and the separation of the 
parts which hold the water seal in place at fixed tempera¬ 
tures suited to varying conditions; in this exhibit, the head 
without color other than that of its composition, indicates 
the normal or “regular” fusible joint, which is intended to 
release at a temperature of approximately 160° Fahrenheit, 
the variations from this basis being indicated by the coloring 
of the sprinkler head, the white coated sprinkler indicating 
a melting or releasing temperature of 212, blue that of 286 
and red that of 360° Fahrenheit respectively, thus enabling 
the inspector to decide on sight the appropriateness of the 
equipment in specially heated localities; while the head, nearly 
black in color, is specially prepared with a composition called 
“coro-proof” which is intended to prevent corrosion of the 

H 


parts due to the presence of acids or other corrosive ele¬ 
ments in the factory, the melting point of this composition 
being such that its use is practically restricted to locations 
in which the temperature does not largely exceed that of 
i6o° provided for the “regular” fusible joint. 

In each of these devices the composition of the metal 
forming its body and other exposed parts is of such nature 
as to prevent oxidation, while the material composing the 
water seal of the valve is of various composition, but in each 
case, likewise non-corrodible, and at the same time of such 
character as to prevent adherence at its seat under the in¬ 
fluence of continued pressure. 

In addition to these devices which are designed to operate 
automatically at a given rise of temperature caused by fire in¬ 
side of a structure, we also have here specimens of approved 
devices for use in protecting structures from attack by flames 
originating in other and exposing structures by the delivery 
of a volume of water against the outside walls, upon the 
cornice and over the fronts of the windows of the building 
to be protected, thus forming a water-curtain as a stop to 
the entrance of flame from the burning exposure. These 
devices are known as “open sprinklers,” and having no seal 
at the valve outlet, they are not automatic in action, but de¬ 
pend upon the human dement to render them effective by 
the operation of opening a valve at the base of the riser 
through which water is to be conveyed to the distributer, but 
even with this disadvantage, the open sprinkler has so often 
proven its worth as a reliable fire-stop as to warrant its 
introduction as a means of protection against exposure fires 
whenever it is possible to secure installation of such an 
equipment. 

It may also be noted that the only difference between the 
open sprinkler used for wall and window protection, and 
that designed for application to cornices, lies in the shape 
of the water distributing table or plate, the design in each 
instance being that which has given the best results in actual 
practice at fires. 

In concluding this description and exhibit of approved auto¬ 
matic sprinklers, it is well to relieve the minds of those who 
fear the happening of large water damage through the leak- 


15 


age of these devices under normal conditions of temperature, 
or from excess pressure, it may be stated that the minimum 
pressure at which a leak is excusable, is fixed at 250 pounds 
to the square inch, and the temperature at which the fusible 
link may melt is held at 160° in order to secure compliance 
with the National Board rules before approval of the device, 
and the record shows so few failures in this respect as to 
place the matter outside of serious consideration as an ob¬ 
jection to the introduction of the automatic sprinkler as a 
means of certain and reliable protection. 

Trusting that I may have made plain to you the details of 
construction and the intended operation of the automatic 
sprinkler, permit me to present a short statement of what, in 
actual experience, this very valuable extinguishing device 
has accomplished in putting out fires in practically all classes 
of structures, with almost any conceivable hazard of oc¬ 
cupancy, and in all parts of the world since the device has 
reached that stage of perfection which has enabled its use 
to make the record: 

From figures compiled by the General Fire Extinguisher 
Company it is shown that before the more general introduc¬ 
tion of automatic sprinklers in factories, the average cost 
per fire was $7,361, while under automatic sprinkler pro¬ 
tection the average cost per fire in 13,476 cases covered by 
their records, amounted to but $277.26 each. 

Supplementing this, the record of Sprinklered risks fires 
compiled by the National Fire Protection Association, cov¬ 
ering a period of some 14 years, shows that of 10,171 fires 
listed, 64.25% were entirely extinguished by the action of 
the sprinklers; that 30.59% were held in check to such an 
extent as to permit extinguishment by other means, thus 
presenting a grand total of 94.84% to the credit of the 
automatic sprinklers for successful operation in holding in 
check or totally extinguishing fires; the remaining 5.16% 
of the whole representing unsatisfactory operation of the 
device, the failures of which was caused either by a lack 
of proper water supply, serious defects in the equipment, or 
on account of the equipment being rendered inoperative 
through the cutting off of its water supply, accidentally, care¬ 
lessly, or otherwise. 


16 


It may be of further interest to state from these records 
of the National Fire Protection Association, that 47.66% 
of these equipments secured their primary supply from pub¬ 
lic water service; 34.71% were supplied from gravity tanks; 
14.38% operated under pressure tank supply ; 6.19% were 
supplied by automatic steam fire pumps; automatically 
operated electric pumps and connections from public fire 
department steamers each served as primary supply to the 
extent of .01%. 

Remarkable as is this record of success in controlling 
fire through the action of automatic sprinklers, it must not 
be assumed that there is no limitation to their power of ac¬ 
complishment in fire extinguishment, as a reference to the 
figures above given will show that 'something over 30% 
of the fires were simply held in check by the sprinklers until 
other means of fighting the fire could be utilized, and this 
fact emphasizes the necessity for always being prepared for 
any untoward condition of the automatic equipment, by pro¬ 
viding auxiliary means to control the flame when from any 
cause the sprinklers fail to completely extinguish it, for 
even with a perfectly satisfactory installation, we are 
often confronted with conditions due to accident or careless¬ 
ness, which, for a time at least, may entirely or partially 
disable the equipment after it has gone into operation. 

In view of the fact that you have at your command copies 
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters’ rules and re¬ 
quirements covering the installation and equipment of an 
automatic sprinkler system, I will not burden you by a 
repetition of those rules, but will content myself by assuring 
you that when such equipment has been installed in con¬ 
formity with the rules and requirements, and is kept in ser¬ 
viceable condition by proper supervision and care, the chance 
for its failure to promptly extinguish any fire in its incipiency 
is extremely rare, almost improbable; indeed, with proper 
water supply under necessary pressure behind the automatic 
sprinkler in almost any conceivable locality where the de¬ 
livery of its spray is unobstructed, it will vindicate its past 
record as the most efficient fire fighting device ever con¬ 
ceived by the human mind; it is always in the right place at 
the right time, ready for any emergency and promptly per- 

17 


forms its allotted function without dependence upon human 
aid or direction in its accomplishment. 

I cannot dismiss consideration of the value of the auto¬ 
matic sprinkler as being compassed by its utilitarian qualifica¬ 
tions as a fire extinguisher, but must call your attention to 
the fact that it is also a very potent element in the matter 
of saving life at the time of fire, as the promptness with 
which it acts in the delivery of water under the influence of 
heat, likewise serves as an alarm to the occupants of the 
threatened structures, thus admonishing them to seek safety 
in due time, while they are at the same moment under a 
drenching shower from the sprinkler which will prevent 
ignition of their garments, or extinguish the flame if already 
in evidence. 

I am thoroughly convinced, as are all who are familiar 
with the operation of the automatic sprinkler, that if the 
premises of the Triangle Waist Factory, which recently 
burned in this city, had been under such protection, there 
could not have been such terrible loss of life, even as the 
result of wild panic, and that it is more than probable that 
the fire would have been completely extinguished at its in- 
cipiency and without serious loss of property. 

Before giving attention to the class or specific character 
of fire extinguishing devices which are now generally ac¬ 
ceptable for that purpose, it is perhaps well to call attention 
to the fact that as a means of fire extinguishment no agent 
has been discovered which can replace water under pressure, 
and commonplace as is this knowledge, few of those who 
plan to use this agent seem to realize the fact that the force 
or pressure which serves to carry a stream to burning material 
is only of value when, in addition to this carrying power it 
includes sufficient volume to completely drown out com¬ 
bustion, by cutting off the supply of oxygen and cooling 
down the temperature of the burning material to a point 
below that at which it will normally ignite; force or power 
alone is of little value in a fire stream, hence, in planning a 
“layout” for fire protection, the first consideration should 
be given to securing a reliable and abundant water supply, 
and then to so design the equipment as to provide for the 
most effective pressure to insure the delivery of the required 
volume when and where needed. 

18 


In giving proper consideration to this matter of volume 
to be delivered, it is necessary to recall to your minds the 
fact that the loss of head due to friction in service pipes 
varies as the two-and-a-half power of the velocity; that 
doubling the diameter of the main quadruples its delivery 
capacity, and that a main which is supplied two ways or 
from both ends, has double the delivery capacity of one of 
like size when fed one way only; hence, it becomes evident 
that in order to secure the most reliable service, the water 
mains in any scheme and whatever the source of supply, 
should be laid in complete circuit and be of sufficient size 
to provide volume under such head or pressure as will in¬ 
sure the delivery of full fire streams at each outlet in ser¬ 
vice, with a loss of head not in excess of io to 12 pounds 
below the normal pressure. 

A “standard fire stream” demands the delivery of not less 
than 250 gallons of water per minute through a 1)4" smooth 
bore nozzle and to secure this volume it requires a pressure 
of not less than 45 pounds to the square inch at the base of 
the nozzle, which will give approximately a reach of 63 feet 
horizontally and about 70 feet vertically.* 

In considering the relative value of water supplies for fire 
extinguishing purposes, it is evident that a well designed 
public gravity system, having ample supply and pressure, 
should lead the list, but in the matter of supply for manu¬ 
facturing plants remote from public service, the problem be¬ 
comes one for special consideration in each case, with its 
solution dependent upon local conditions as to the source 
of supply and the means by which same may be best utilized, 
the essential point in any case being assurance of sufficient 
volume and reliability as to the continuance of supply under 
emergency demands, the quantity available at isolated plants 
should alw r ays be sufficient to fully serve all appliances for 
defence for a period of not less than one hour of continuous 
operation. 

Private reservoirs of sufficient capacity and at an eleva¬ 
tion to insure adequate pressure for fire service throughout 


*The horizontal and vertical distances given are from experi¬ 
ments by Mr. John R. Freeman, Transactions, Am. Soc. C. E., Vbl. 
XXI. 


19 



the system would prove the most acceptable, but are difficult 
to secure and of infrequent occurrence. 

An under ground tank or cistern, or similar container, 
above ground, when of suitable capacity and with means of 
replenishment, is a fairly satisfactory source of supply for 
use with steam or other power-driven pumps, when the lift 
is not in excess of twelve feet. 

A rotary water power pump may take both its energy and 
supply from the head at the dam, if the supply is sufficient, 
but this class of pump is not always reliable for fire pn> 
tection. 

Elevated tanks of the ordinary class and at customary 
elevations and capacity, are of small value for fire streams 
from either the stand-pipes or from yard hydrants. 

The question of economy as a result of the uninterrupted 
operation of a plant being one of decided importance in plant 
design, it is well to bear in mind that the enforced stoppage 
of work caused by the occurrence of fire would be materially 
mitigated, if in advance of that misfortune proper precau¬ 
tion were taken to provide adequate and reliable means of 
fire protection to supplement the other essentials of good 
housekeeping and safe construction, and while it is undoubt¬ 
edly true that the most reliable class of protection is to be 
found in the presence of automatic sprinklers, there are 
other devices and appliances which will serve good purpose 
in fire extinguishment when used with intelligence and judg¬ 
ment in that emergency, but in order to secure from such 
devices the most satisfactory measure of efficiency in the 
time of need, it is necessary that both owners and employees 
in every manufacturing plant should become familiarized 
with the appliances provided for fire fighting, and that a 
selected few of the most apt and intelligent of the force be 
formed into a fire brigade which should be drilled in the 
use of the appliances with such frequency and method as to 
render them a reliable force for the protection of the plant 
when fire occurs, and this result may best be accomplished 
by assigning to each member his appropriate position and 
duty in service when called upon for action, as will be found 
more fully detailed in the National Board pamphlet covering 
the formation of private fire brigades, copies of which are 
now in your possession. 


20 


Let me here utter a caution as to over-confidence in the 
matter of the efficiency of any private fire prevention equip¬ 
ment, however complete may be the appliances, or however 
well disciplined the fire brigade; in every case, upon the 
discovery of a fire, first call the public fire department, and 
then make the most prompt and intelligent use of the private 
appliances at command, thus insuring the concentration of 
all available means to conquer the flame, before it reaches 
proportions which may render it uncontrolable by any effort. 

In giving consideration to appliances and devices now in 
common use for fire protection and not automatic in opera¬ 
tion, time will not permit the detailed description which it 
is properly entitled to, and in this respect you are again 
referred to the pamphlets issued by the National Board, in 
which rules and requirements are set forth as to the con¬ 
struction and proper use of these manually operated appli¬ 
ances, which may be briefly considered as follows: 

Casks and Pails. —When properly located and supplied 
with water, these devices are of great value in the early 
stages of a. fire, and if intelligently used, frequently pre¬ 
vent serious loss. 

Chemical Extinguishers. —Like fire pails, these devices 
are of decided value when available, and have the ad¬ 
vantage of enabling the operator to direct an efficient 
stream immediately upon the seat of combustion up to 
a distance of about 40 feet. 

Vertical Pipes.— (Stand pipes.)—When located in ac¬ 
cessible positions and under proper head or pressure, 
with hose and nozzle attached, serve well in the control 
of more advanced fires, provided the operator retains 
control of his faculties sufficiently to ‘‘stay by” the ap¬ 
pliance and intelligently direct the stream delivered. 
No stand pipe less than three inches in diameter should be 
installed; having this diameter, it will supply two 
streams through two inch hose with nozzles of or 
y inch diameter, and four streams with same sized noz¬ 
zles, through 1 y 2 inch hose. Stand pipes supplied from 
elevated tanks of usual capacity and at average eleva¬ 
tions, are not of value for hose stream service. 

Steam Jets. —Are sometimes quite efficient in suppressing 
fires in dry-rooms and other confined spaces; where 
used there should be ample boiler capacity behind them 
to insure volume of steam. 


21 


Sand Pails. —Dry, granular sand, freed from excess of 
clay or loam, forms a very efficient means of extinguish¬ 
ing fires in oils, varnish and other inflammable fluids 
by smothering the flame. A proper supply should be 
maintained, with a scoop for its distribution, in places 
where such inflammables are used or stored. 

Steam Fire Pumps. —Are a very efficient means of fire 
protection when they are properly designed for the 
special purpose, and situated in a fire proof structure 
separated from the general plant, with independent and 
duplicate sources of steam supply, and have a water 
supply of sufficient capacity to insure continuous opera¬ 
tion for a period of not less than one hours duration at 
full capacity. 

Ordinary trade pumps, while efficient for general service, 
are seldom reliable under the stress of fire demands. 

Centrifugal or Turbine Pumps. —When these are de¬ 
signed especially for duty in fire service they promise 
to be of considerable value when properly located as 
to exposure and fitted with both steam and water sup¬ 
ply required for the direct acting steam fire pump. 

Electrical Pumps.— Special fire pumps operated by the 
electric current are coming into use to a considerable 
extent, and when properly designed and located, with 
two separated and reliable sources of supply for power, 
may be expected to do good service-. 

Rotary Pumps. —Water power rotary fire pumps when de¬ 
signed for the purpose are capable of rendering very 
good service under favorable conditions of power sup¬ 
ply and location, but, as a rule, the best results are 
not obtainable, for the reason that the usual location of 
the device is in a wheel pit or other equally unaccessible 
spot difficult to reach in case of fire, and for the same 
reason is liable to be neglected as to inspection and 
up-keep. 

Fire Hydrants. —Whether public or private, should con¬ 
form in construction to the National Standard, with a 
barrel of not less than six (6") inches in diameter, and 
be fed from a service main of not less, than of the same 
dimensions forming a complete circuit of the system, 
without dead ends, meter connections or other obstruc¬ 
tions to the free flow of water, and be located at a 
distance of not less than 50 feet from the buildings to 
be protected. 

Hose connections or outlets should be of the National 
Standard pattern, unless the city outlets differ from it, 
in which event the outlets on private equipment should 
conform to the latter. 


22 


/ 


Fire Hose.— This is an important item controlling the ef¬ 
ficiency of fire streams where hose is used, from the 
fact that the loss of head due to friction in the passage 
of water through hose of the very best rubber lined 
quality (of 2 y 2 " size) amounts to about 14 pounds per 
hundred feet of hose, while with the ordinary quality of 
hose on the market and in use, such loss of head may 
reach 25 or more pounds per 100 feet. 

Hose for use on hydrants and other devices supplying 
streams on the outside of buildings should be of not less 
than 2^4" diameter, with nozzles of 1 % inch smooth 
bore pattern, while hose for use inside of a structure 
should preferably be not in excess of 2 inches in 
diameter with a % inch smooth n zzle, in order to insure 
quick and effective handling by novices. 

Underground Piping. —Should be laid in complete circuit, 
and where the system is extensive, should be grid- 
ironed in order to secure circulation. Pipe sizes of less 
than 6 inches in diameter should not be permitted in any 
equipment. One steam fire engine connected to a six 
inch service line will cut off supply to any other device 
in the same line of service. 

In order to be assured of even an approximately satisfac¬ 
tory system for any individual plant, practically none of the 
appliances and devices above mentioned should be omitted, 
except in the matter of fire pump selection, where a choice 
may be had, and the presence of all such apparatus is deemed 
essential to supplement the protection to be expected from 
a properly installed automatic sprinkler system. 

If the time allotted to me for delivery of this address 
would permit the effort, I might go somewhat into detail 
as to the principal causes of fires in manufacturing plants, 
but this subject is one with a very broad field of possibilities 
and of experience, hence, I must content myself by stating 
that as about 80% of all fires are due to carelessness, and 
that in the final analysis of the remaining 20% which is 
usually attributed to accident, close investigaton would show 
that as about 80% of these so-called accidents are justly 
attributable to a lack of proper supervision of machines or 
devices and of process methods, we will have left but a small 
percentage which may be classed as entirely accidental and 
unpreventable, and a faithful adherence to the gospel of 


23 



0 034 076 617 9 


“Good House-keeping” would unquestionably prove the 
cure for even the supposedly unpreventable causes. 

In concluding my remarks I desire to call your attention 
to the value of the text books, or “Rules and Requirements” 
published by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, cov¬ 
ering the fire hazards and means of fire prevention or ex¬ 
tinction, copies of each of which it has afforded me much 
pleasure to present to you, and to express the hope that they 
may prove of service to you in your work of standardizing 
factory design in the matter of fire prevention and fire pro¬ 
tection, and thus, by instruction and guidance, lead the unit 
of values into such comprehension of its importance to the 
conservation of the interests of the whole people of this 
country, as to show marked results in the reduction of the 
inexcusable fire waste, which, if unchecked, promises to 
certainly impoverish our people as a whole, and to you, 
young gentlemen, comes the call to “spread the gospel of 
conservation of our created resources,” and I trust your 
response may be both earnest and successful. 







